Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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649. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline to ratify the second optional protocol of the UNCRC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13430/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is firmly committed to ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Ireland signed the Second Optional Protocol in 2000, and the Government is committed to taking the further step of ratifying it as soon as possible. In Irish treaty practice, the State must be in a position to meet the obligations it assumes under the terms of an international agreement from the moment it enters into force. Often it will not be possible for the State to meet these obligations without first taking steps required by domestic law, or otherwise, enabling it to do so.

Following consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, several legislative measures have been implemented which were necessary to ensure that Ireland is in compliance with the obligations of the Optional Protocol. Enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 were significant steps on the pathway to the ratification of the Optional Protocol.

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 (Act 28 of 2024) was signed into law on 17 July 2024, which amends the Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act 1996 and the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008; and provides for related matters, for the purposes of giving effect to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Ireland is almost ready to ratify following the introduction of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024.

Officials in my Department met recently with the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs on the next steps to ensure readiness across all relevant departments in progressing ratification of the Optional Protocol in 2025. Following this engagement, officials in my Department will be consulting with the Attorney General’s Office to ensure that all relevant legislative provisions have been made to enable ratification.